Critical Biography Filmography Reviews Bibliography
Ho, Sai-hong Ivy – Critical Biography Top
Ivy Ho made her entry into Hong Kong’s film and television industry during the period of the New Wave. She worked on a number of television shows in the late 1970s, gaining a reputation as a screenwriter whose work is particularly strong on characterization. Notably, she wrote part of an episode for Patrick Tam’s innovative television series Seven Women (1976), in which she also played the protagonist – a radio host sharing with her audience her personal thoughts and feelings on a range of topics. While Ho’s screenwriting work for Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) in the subsequent decade was much-lauded, her contributions were sporadic and she drifted away from the industry as the New Wave ebbed, turning instead to advertising and PR work for much of the 1980s.
Ho returned to the film industry in the 1990s first as a screenwriter. She was hired by Peter Chan to work with Aubrey Lam on the script of the troubled United Filmmakers Organization (UFO) production, The Age of Miracles (1996). The special effects-laden film was lavishly budgeted, and eventually led to its production company’s demise. Ho, however, worked with Chan again immediately on his subsequent film, Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996), and scored a spectacular success. The film was a box-office hit, and also won Ho an award for Best Screenplay at the 16th Hong Kong Film Awards. She began working regularly as a screenwriter thereafter. Credits include notable scripts for Kenneth Yee (Anna Magdalena, 1998), Jackie Chan (The Accidental Spy, 2001), Ann Hui (July Rhapsody, 2002, awarded Best Screenplay at the Golden Horse Awards), Benny Chan (Divergence, 2005), and Johnnie To (Linger, 2008).
Ho made her directorial debut at the end of the decade with Claustrophobia (2008), a drama written by Ho herself that relates an extramarital affair through a complex flashback narrative structure. The performances by leads Ekin Cheung and Karena Lam were much lauded, and Ho received a Best Screenplay award from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. Ho followed Claustrophobia with Crossing Hennessy (2010), a romantic comedy starring Jacky Cheung and Tang Wei. Once again, Ho acted as writer-director and the lead performances were universally acclaimed. The film also won Ho another Best Screenplay award from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.
Filmography Top
Feature Films:
Role |
Title (English) |
Title (Chinese) |
Year |
| Producer | Cold War II | 寒戰2 | 2016 |
| Producer | My Beloved Bodyguard | 特工爺爺 | 2016 |
| Executive Producer | Go Away Mr. Tumor | 滚蛋吧！肿瘤君 | 2015 |
| Producer | Rise of the Legend | 黄飞鸿之英雄有梦 | 2014 |
| Producer | Temporary Family | 失戀急讓 | 2014 |
| Producer | Cold War (Trailer) | 寒戰 | 2012 |
| Producer | First Time (Trailer) | 第一次 | 2012 |
| Director Writer |
Crossing Hennessy (Trailer) | 月滿軒尼詩 | 2010 |
| Director Writer |
Claustrophobia (Trailer) | 親密 | 2009 |
| Writer | Linger (Trailer) | 蝴蝶飛 | 2007 |
| Story | 2 Become 1 (Trailer) | 天生一對 | 2006 |
| Writer | Divergence (Trailer) | 三岔口 | 2005 |
| Writer | Goddess of Mercy (Trailer) | 玉觀音 | 2004 |
| Writer | July Rhapsody (Trailer) | 男人四十 | 2002 |
| Writer | The Accidental Spy (Trailer) | 特務迷城 | 2001 |
| Writer | And I Hate You So (Trailer) | 小親親 | 2000 |
| Story | Gorgeous (Trailer) | 玻璃樽 | 1999 |
| Writer | Anna Magdalena | 安娜瑪德蓮娜 | 1998 |
| Writer | Comrades, Almost a Love Story (Trailer) | 甜蜜蜜 | 1996 |
| Writer | The Age of Miracles | 麻麻帆帆 | 1996 |
| Writer | Silent Love (Trailer) | 聽不到的說話 | 1986 |
Reviews Top
Crossing Hennessy (2010) Reviews:
HK Magazine:
http://hk-magazine.com/movie-review/crossing-hennessy
Love HK Film:
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/crossing_hennessy.html
Moviexclusive:
http://www.moviexclusive.com/review/crossinghennessy/crossinghennessy.html
Personal blog – Stefan S.:
http://anutshellreview.blogspot.hk/2010/03/hkiff-2010-review-crossing-hennessy.html
Screen Daily:
http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/crossing-hennessy/5011978.article
Variety:
http://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/crossing-hennessy-1117942967/
Claustrophobia (2009) Reviews:
Screen Daily:
http://www.screendaily.com/claustrophobia/4043028.article
Variety:
http://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/claustrophobia-2-1200473797/
Bibliography Top
- Suda, Kimiko. “Ann Hui’s All about Love: New Perspectives on Gender, Kinship and Sexualities in Hong Kong.” Chinese Identities on Screen. Ed. Klaus Mühlhahn and Clemens von Haselberg. Zurich: Lit Verlag, 2012. 100-110.
Hong Kong Women Filmmakers 
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